Bay City Tribune

Last week, Bay City school faculty and staff received good news in light of the current school finance climate - they get a raise.

While Houston and many school districts statewide are making deep cuts in programs and jobs, Bay City school trustees approved a $900 raise for teachers, librarians and nurses and a 2 to 2.5 percent increase to all other staff to bring them closer to their statewide peer group mid point, which is established by the Texas Association of School Boards.

"I would like to let each of our employees know that our central administration team and school board sincerely appreciate all of the work that they do and we are trying to increase par for all of our employment groups as we move forward," said Keith Brown, Bay City school superintendent, in an email to his principals and department chairs.

"However, in this economic time, it is increasingly difficult to do so."

Brown said because Bay City voters came out in "overwhelming support" of the local education system in 2008, approving a rollback election, the district is able to inform its staff of pay raises instead of pay cuts, or worse, reductions in force.

With no talk, in Austin, of changing the school funding formulas, Brown called the school trustees "incredibly supportive (slash) brave (slash) committed."

"School superintendents and personnel don't feel like its equitable at all," Brown said.

"We believe all students should receive the same amount of funding and we don't believe our school funding is adequate and we also don't believe it meets the constitution of the state of Texas."

"A key thing that a lot of people don't understand about school funding is that it's all based on enrollment and attendance," he said.

Brown explained that Bay City schools have seen a decrease in enrollment of 608 students since 1988. Those 608 students equate to a decrease in school funding of $4,739,928.

"That's why I say our biggest issue is declining enrollment," he said.

Brown said they have been working hard over the past few years to market the district to new and potential residents.

The district, with the leadership of Allison Sliva, public information officer, implemented a 20-point marketing strategy to attract families with school-age children.

"We have people here who are excited about Bay City and excited about what this place has to offer," Brown said.

"'A home town school with big city opportunities' - that's our motto and that's what we're so proud to offer here at Bay City ISD."

While Bay City schools have fared much better than most other Texas school districts, thanks to the 2008 rollback election, they have seen a decrease in their total staff by 80 employees over the last two years.

"Each of those losses occurred by attrition, so when people left their jobs, we simply didn't replace them," said Brown.

But with falling enrollment across Matagorda County, the overall affect on class size means now there are about 17 students per class instead of an average of 14.

"We're thankful that these are all families that have moved on to other situations and we haven't ever had to look those families in the eye and tell them they no longer have a job," said Brown.

With the expected industrial growth in Matagorda County, the outlook is positive, Brown said.

Increased tax revenue and increased enrollment from the construction of two major industrial projects would be an economic boost the district needs to continue offering annual pay raises while other school districts struggle to find a solution, Brown said.